5 Bands Who Improved After Replacing Their Singer (And 5 Who Didn't)
4. Became Worse - Van Halen
David Lee Roth said it best. His Van Halen songs were all about sex and Sammy Hagar's were all about love.
Van Halen began in 1972 in Pasadena, California. By 1974, brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen had recruited vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony. This became the classic Van Halen lineup. The band released their smash debut, Van Halen, in 1978. Between then and 1984, Van Halen revolutionized guitar rock over a span of six studio albums. Each of those albums has been certified either platimum or diamond based on sales.
After recording the sixth record, 1984, Roth decided to quit and form a new band. Each band member has given different reasons for the split, but all reasons appear to be based around creative control.
Eddie Van Halen met former Montrose singer Sammy Hagar in 1985. Hagar was established as a solo performer at the time. Eddie brought in Hagar to sing and play rhythm guitar. The first album of the "Van Hagar" era, 5150, was their first to reach number one. The band released three more albums with Hagar, and each had very strong moments.
Nothing about the Van Hagar era was bad. If they had started with Sammy Hagar, they likely would have still thrived. After a decade of Diamond Dave though, Sammy just felt a little "B-Team".